Automatic sole-machine.



I F. F. DORSEY. AUTOMATIC SOLE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2a, 1906.

1,044,443. Patented Now 12, 1912.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W" Y w-w F, F. DORSEY.

AUTOMATIC SOLE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2a, 1906.

1 ,044,443,, Patented Nov. 1 2, 1912.

v 7 SHEETS-SHEET z Wmasszs F. F. DORSEY. AUTOMATIC SOLE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906.

11,044,443. Patented Nov.12,1912. 7 sums-sum 3.

' i f v I 1 m F. F. DOESBY. 'AUTOMATIO SOLE MACHINE. APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 28, 1906.

1,044,443. Patented Nov. 12, 1912. 4 a Q 7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.-

VV/T/VESSES P. F. DORSEY. AUTOMATIC son: MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906. 1 044,443 Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

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AUTOMATIC SOLE MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906.

1,044,443. I Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

'UMTE STATES PATENT Qu nce.

FARNUM F. DORSEY, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON JERSEY.

, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW AUTOMATIC SOLE-MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Application filed May 28, 1906. Serial No. 319,057.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, F ARNUM F. DORSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at i 'VVinchester, in the county of Middlesex and made of leather, for the reception of the ator being necessary only in maintaining a- I stitches by which it is secured in the shoe,

by channeling, shouldering or otherwise operating upon its marginal portion. These operations are usually performedby machines similar in their general mode of operation, having instrumentalities engaging the marginal portion of a sole blank and comprisihgmeans for holding and feeding the blank and knives or other appropriate means for operating on the margin of the blank. V

The chief object of the present invention is to produce a machine of the character above described in which the operation is wholly automatic, the attention of an opersupply of blanks in the hopper of the machine. The invention in this respect is an improvement on the machine described in the application of E. \Vinkley, filed April 2, 1906, Serial No. 591,796, for Letters Patent of the United States, on improvements in automatic sole machines, to

. which reference is herein made by permission, since it comprises not onlyautomatic (mechanism for swinging the blank during the operation thereon, but also automatic means for controlling otherfunctions of the machine, including the adjusting movements of the edge gage and the replacement of a finished'sole or insole with a fresh blank. I

Another object of the invention is to effect improvements. in the arrangement and construction of the knives and their actuating mechanism by which their operation is facilitated, and the use of a large feed wheel and heavy pressure of the feed wheel agalnst the work is obviated together with the in- 'jury' to the sole resulting therefrom.

side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a left-hand side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a front elevation with portions of the hopper and blanksupplying mechanism broken away; Fig. 4 is a vertical section-on planes passing through the cam shaft and the axis of the work support; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 00-00, Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a plan View of the cams and a portion of the mechanism actuated thereby for operating the edge gage and the movable guide; Fig. 7 is a detail view in vertical section of a portion of .the trigger mechanism; Fig. 8 is a diagram of the cycle of opera tions of the machine; and Figs. 9 to T5 inclusive are diagrams showing the movements of the blank under the influence of the automatic transferring and guiding devices and the feeler. I

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine for makingsoles', the machine having knives for channeling the sole blanks and for shouldering the edge thereof, as is customary in the manufacture of soles for turn shoes. In addition to the channeling and vShouldering knives,.which ;arehereinafter referred to in general as the operat ing means, the machine is provided with means for supporting and feeding the blanks, means for automatically guiding and swinging the blanks as the operation proceeds about the Ymargin thereof, and auto-- matic means, acting vwhen the operation upon a blank is completed, to discharge the Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

positions assumed by the guide and blank and substitute a fresh blank, so that the operation of the machine is continuous without the intervention of an operative;

The channeling knife 1 and the shouldering knife 2 are mounted in carriers 3 and 4.-

fixed to vertical arms 5 and 6 which are pivoted at their upperends, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, upon a stud 7- on the. frame of the machine. This pivotal arrangement of the arms permits their lower ends to be reciprocated slightly so as to cause the knives to vibrate in a substantially horizontal direction. in order to facilitate their cutting operation and cause them to have a chopping action in the line of feed instead of a drag cut. The arms. 5 and 6 are reciprocated by means of links 8, pivoted on studs 9 fixed to the arms (see Figs. 3 and 4), and embracing at their other ends eccentrics 10 (see Fig. 1) on the forward end of the drive shaft 11 of the machine' The drive shaft is rotated rapidly by a pulley 12 connected with any suitable source of power, and since the eccentrics 10 are oppositely disposed upon the shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, they cause the two knives to vibrate constantly and rapidly in opposite directions through short distances in the line of feed of the sole blank. Owing to this arrangement only one knife at a time is acting upon the blank, and owing to this fact and to the chopping action of the knives,

the drag upon the work due to. the knives is greatly reduced, so that resistance to the feed is much less than in machines in which two knives operating simultaneously and with a drag out are used, and this feature of-t'he invention renders possible the use of afeed wheel of small diameter resting with comparatively slight pressure against the work and offering little resistance to the swinging of the blank in accordance with its curvature.

The "shanks of the knives 1 and 2 are secured adjustably in carriers '3 and 4 by clamp plates 13 screwed to the carriers, and the lower edges of the clamp plates operate as pressers to limit the depth to which the knives cut into the work. The carriers 3 and 4 have a tongue-and-groove engagement with the arms 5 and 6, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and are fixed to the arms by screws 14. This arrangement permits the ready removal of the carriers for the purpose of sharpenihg the knives, and their re placement without change in the adjustment of the knives. As shown in Fig. 4, the rear side-of the arm 6 bears'against a surface on the frame of the machine, the studs 9 bear against each other at their ends, and the I outer surface of the arm 5,is engaged by a hearing plate 15 supported by a set screw 16, and thus the arms 5 and 6 and the knives are supported against lateral thrusts and the knives are maintained in proper relative position during their vibration.

The sole blank is supported upona circular flat work support 1.7, which is mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 18 by which it is rotated to assist in feeding the work. The upper surface of the'work is engaged-by the feed wheel 19, which is inclined for. a purpose hereinafter set forth and is provided with teeth upon its periphcry. The wheel engages the sole blank near the edge thereof, and between the points of operation of thdchamieling knife 'an'dfthe shouldering knife, as shown particularly in Fig. '1. The feed wheel is mounted upon and actuated by an inclined shaft 20 journaled in the frame of the machine and connected by bevel gears 21 with the vertical cam shaft 22. The cam shaft carries a worm gear 23 \vhich is driven by -a worm 24, Fig.

1, on the drive shaft 11, the lower end of the cam shaft 22 being connected by a train of gears 25 with the lower end of the work support shaft 18, as shown in Fig. 4. The arrangement above described is such that as the drive shaft 11 is constantly rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, the cam shaft 22, the feed wheel shaft 20, and the work support shaft 18 are constantly rotated at a greatly reduced speed, and-the feed wheel and the work support tend to feed the work from right to left, while the constantly vibrating knives o erate to channel and shoulder the margin of thesole as it is fed past them by the feeding means.

The work support, while in engagement with a sole, is pressed thereag'ainst by a spring 26 surrounding the shaft 18 and located in the work support carrier 27. The spring 26 acts through a ball-thrust bearing 28 to reduce the friction, and the lower end of the spring bears against an adjusting screw 29 which forms a bearing for the shaft 18.

' The'distances of the cuts produced by the knives from the edge of the sole are determined by an edge gage 30 which projects slightly over the upper surface of the table, as shown in Fig. 5, slightly in advance ofthe point of operation of the knives. The front of the edge gage is'rounded ofl asshown in the ends of the blank, a movable guide31 is used, in the form of a roll which engages the edge of the blank a short-distance to theleft of the point of engagement of the knives, this roll being carried by an arm 32 which is crooked, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5, to enable it to swing the guide over the upper surface of the work support. This guide is s X r actuated automatically during the operation upon the sole blank by means hereinafter described. g

The various automatic functions of the machine are caused to occur at the proper "timesby means of a'feeler 33, haying a semitimes.

circular extremity which bears lightly against the edge of the blank slightly in advance of the pointof operation of the knives. This feeler is held lightly against the blank by a spring, and in accordance with the various positions assumed by it as the blank is fed and the contour thereof are all actuated by cams mounted-'ppon the constantly rotating cam shaft'22, these;cams

' 'being normally disconnected from the cam shaft and remaining idle until they are temporarily connected .rotati'vely with the shaft at certain times in the operation of themachine by clutches thrown. into and out of operation by the -rieel'er 33.. The cams 35, 36 and 37 (see F'ig's at end 6) by which the operations of the feelerfmechanism, thevedge gage and :the. .movable" guide, respectively, are controlled', ar secured together and connected with the driven member-;38 .of the lower clutch bymeansxof screws 39., and jthe -3 cams 40 and 41 by which' the work supportand clearer and theblank-supplying mechanisms respectively are actuated, aresimilarly connected with the driven member 42 of the upper clutch.v As shownin- Figs. 4 40 and. 5, the upper clutch comprises'a mem-- ber 42 having a generally. circular form," and embraced by the drivin clutch, which is pinne vided with diametrically E opposite recesses Hardened rolls 46-are located llbetween the driving ring and the blocks ',"an d zspring 5 plungers 47 tend normally to press the rolls into the tapering 'spacesbetween the ring and the blocks so that" 'as'the driving ring rotates, the rolls, when acting freely under the influence of the spr ng :plun'gers, tend so to pinch between theiclutc'h members and cause themember 42 'to-berotated-by the drivin member 3' andto .rotate the cams with t e cam shaft! This operationisfnor 'mally prevented, however, by means of two.

5 pins 48 whiich are-fixed in'and project uprelatively to the clutch member 42 through rest the revolution of the rolls 46 with the I clutch, and the ring 50, corresponding in member43 of the v to the'cam shaft- 22, as shown in Fig.4,- and has a.deptending-. flange in which is fixed a hardenedsteel, ring 44 closely but loosely embracing the" driven member 42 of the clutch toyvhich the-- cams are secured: The member :42 is proa wardly from a trip ring 49 (see Fig. 4)

which is journaled upon a shoulder of the clutch member 42 below the lower surface" of the clutch member 43, and is free to turn a limited space. The pins 48 engage the rolls 46 opposite to the spring plungers 47,

audit will be apparent that if the rotation of the ring 49 be arrested, the pins ,will ar- I driving meniber of the clutch, the spring plungers yielding sulliciently for this pur pose, and thereby the driven member -12 and the cams connected therewith will be brought to rest and held .aslong as the ring 49 is" prevented from rotating. As soonasthe ring is released againthe spring plungers force the rolls 46 again into operative position, the pins 48 yielding freely to permit this to occur, and the rotation of the clutch member-42 and the cams isimmediately resumed, the ring 49'rotatin'g idly with the clutch member 42;; Theronstructionof the lower clutch is similarto that of the upper operation .to the ring 49, is'provided with a v series of stops 51, shown indotted lines in Fig. .5, arranged at uneven distances about its periphery; 'fThe stops are engaged bya detent 52 (see Figs. 5 and 7) which is inter- 5 mittent-lytripped .by mechanism a controlled by the feeler 3380 that. atintervals' during the operation of the machine the lower clutch is thrown into: operation and permitted to:' rotate *thelowrzfset' of cams through a-di stance equal to the! space be-. tween twosuccessive stops on -the ring 50, the cams coming to. rest again :fa'ssoon' as thenext successive-stop engages thedetent',

and thus thecams' 35, '36 and 3,7 are caused to make a number of"pa rtia-l 1; rotations 1 amounting, at each comple'tecycle of operat-ions of the machine, to a complete rotation 'ofthese cams, the lengths of the several, movements being proportioned to the length ,oitime-to be consumed inthe several operationsl caused-by these cams. The stop ring 7 -,.49-offthe upper clutchis provided with a sin l e-stop 53, so. that the cams 40 and 41 .ma ea complete rotation each time they are thrown into operation, which occurs once in each'cycle of operation of the machine.

The mechanism by which-the feeler '33 throws the clutches and the cams intermit-r tently into operation will now be more particularly described.

The feeler '33 is fixed to a sleeve jour- 1 naled upon a 'stud 56' on the bracket57 in which the work table shaft 18 is journaled, and the sleeve 55 is providedwith an arm (see Figs. 1 and 5) connected by means of a link 59 with one arm of a bell-crank lever 60 which-is pivotally'mounted on a bracket 61 on the frame of the machine. The 'other arm of the bell crank lever carries a pivoted 1,

link62loosely engaged, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, by a pin 63 fixed in an arm 64, hereinafter referred to as a trigger arm. The

trigger,- arm is fixed to the upper end of av sleeve 65 which is free to rotate or to slide vertically in a fixed sleeve1-66 mounted in the frame of the machine. ofthe trigger sleeve 65 rests upon one end of the detent 52 above described, (see Figs.

o and 7 )the sleeve being normally held in raised position by a spring 67 connected with the detent, the spring acting also to 1; aintain'the detent normally in position to engage the clutch stops 51 as above described. A spring 68, connected at its for-' ward end-as shown invFigs. 1 and 5, with the trigger arm 64, tends to swing the parts to the position of Fig. 5, in which the feeler,

is in its most advanced; position, but when a blank is in the machine [the feeler is pushed back by the edge of the blank and operates, through the mechanism above described, to swing the trigger arm 64 against theresistance of the spring 68 to a more forward position, and as the feeler moves in or out in consequence of the varying contour of the sole blank, the trigger arm is swung 'to different positions about the axis of the sleeve 65. The trigger arm 64 carries a narrow upward projection 69, which is engaged,

' sleeve 65 and is free to turn and to reciprocate vertically therein, so that the extremity of the trip arm swings about'the same center as the trigger arm. The upper portion of the shaft 71 is journaled in a sleeve 72 which, in turn, is 'journaled in a sleeve 73 on the frame of the machine. The shaft 71 is confined against longitudinal movement in the sleeve 72 by a collar 74, and the upper end of the'sleeve is provided with lugs 75 by which it is pivotally connected, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, "with a link 76 integral with an eccentric strap 77. The eccentric strap embraces an eccentric on the drive shaft 11, and thus, as the shaft rotates rapidly, a

rapid vertical reciprocation of slight ampli tude is imparted .to the sleeve 72- and the shaft 71 and trip arm 70. So long as the trigger arm is not directly beneath the trip arm this reciprocation is without effect, but as soon as the trigger arm has been swung to a position directly beneath the trip arm the projection 69 is engaged by the trip arm at its next succeeding downward movement,

The lower end a and the trigger arm is thereby depressed and the clutch. thrown into operation as above described.

" Although, by the mechanism above described, thetrip 52 is released at the propermoment positively and. with certainty, by.

meansof power derived'from the drive shaft of the machine, no resistance is imposed upon the free movement of the feeler in re-- sponse to the movement of the sole blank,

except the very slight pressure against the sole due to the spring 68, since the feeler' does not directly operate upon the trip to release it, but has only to swing the trigger arm back and forth against no substantial into operation upon encountering several different portions .of the sole blank having different forms, it will be apparent that the feeler must have such operation upon attain ing several different predetermined .positions, accordingto the portion of the blank with which it is in engagement, and for this reason the trip arm 70 does notreciprocate always in the sameposition, but is automati-' cally adjusted from time to time during the. operation of the machine to difierent positionsabout the axis of its shaft 71 so as; to 1,

engage the trigger upon the attainment of: different positlons by the feeler. end the lower end of the shaft 71 is provided with an arm 78' carrying an upwardly-extending pin 79 engaged by the forked end of acam lever 80,'which is pivoted at, 81

upon the frame of the machine andhasan adjusting screw 82 bearing against the cam 35. A spring 83, connected with the cam To this i lever 80 and the frame of the machine, as'

shown particularly in Fig. 5, maintains the screw 82 in contact with the cam. At each of the intermittent movements of the cams the cam 35, operating through the means above described, swings the arm 78 and the -trip arm 70 to the proper position to determine the point at which the feeler shall next throw the clutch and the cams into operation, and by varying the form of the cam 35 or by changing the adjustment of the screw 82, the feeler mechanism can be adapted tocontrol the automatic functions of the machine for a sole blank of any form.

The engagement of the blank by the feeler at a substantial distance in advance of the point of operation thereon is a feature of great importance. since it enables the feeler to antlclpate the necessary movements of the automatic guiding mechanism, that is, the

feeler acts .to throw the llltCllfilllSlTllIllO operation before the blank has moved, owing to a sharp change in contour, out of proper relation to the knives, so that the blank may cessity of sudden movement and the jar incidentthereto. p v

The mechanism for operating the movable guide 31 is constructed as follows :-The

guide arm 32 is fixed to the upper end of a shaft .84 (see Figs. ,4, 5 and 6) which jo'iirnaled in the work-support, bracket 57- and carries-at its lower end an arm 85. The arm 85 is slotted a't 86 to receive a swivel block -87 adjustably connected with the arm by a stud 88. A link 89 is pivoted to the block 87 atone-end, andjat its other end it is connected by means of a swivel block 90 with a cam lever 91 pivoted at 92 upon the frame of the machine and carrying at its rear end a cam roll 93 whiclrengages theca'm 37.

By the mechanism above described the guide. 31 is swung" forwarder released by the intermittentmovements of the cam 37 so as toproperly guide the sole blank in the manner hereinafter described.

' Since it is desirable to change the position of the edge gage during the operation :upon the sole blankso as to vary the distance of the channel and shoulder from the edge of the sole for different partsthereof, mech-, anism is used to automatically move the edge -gage. The edge gage is mounted on an up-,

ward extension-from a slide 94 (see Figs;

1 and 6)- which slides horizontally on the work support bracket 57, .-being. held in a slot therein'by means of the lugs 95 upon which the table 96, hereinafter described, is

mounted. Screws.97, by which the table is secured in place, passthrough slots in the 1 slide 94 and into a bracket 57. This-arrangement is such: that the slide'94 has a limited longitudinal motion so asto advance orv retract the edge gage, and the slide 94 is moved by means of'a lever 98 pivoted at I 99 upon the bracket 57 and engaging at its screw. 106

upper end a pin 100 on the slide 94. The

lower end of the lever 98'is adjustablv connected by a thumb screw 101 with a liiik102, which is pivotally' connected at its other end with'a nut 103 which-slides in. a slot 104 in one arm of a bell crank lever 105, pivoted at 92, asshownin Fig.6, and engaging at its rear. endthe cam 36. The nut 103 is in threaded engagement with an adjusting journaled in the cam lever 105, and provided with a head 107. by which may he turned. -By this arrangement'the distance of the nut from the pivot-92 may be varied so as to vary the amplitude of the movements imparted to the link 102, and

' thenceto the edge gage. .The thumb screw ,101' carries a toothed washer 108 loosely PIVOiZGd' thereon and engaging corresponding teeth on the end of'the link 102, as

shown in Fig. 6. By loosening the thumb screw the link, which is slotted't'or this purpose, may be movedrelatively to the nut 108 and the thumb screw so as to vary the position of the edge gage, irrespective of the position of the cam lever 105. This arrangement,provides for determining the initial position of the edge gage, and since the screw .106, above described, provides for varying the amplitude of movement] imparted to the edge gage, these two adjustmerits in combination permit the adj ustment of themachine for anywidths of margin desired for both the shank portion and the forepart portion -of thesole, the cam 36 being patternedto move :the edge gage at the times when the operation upon the blank is proceeding from the shank to the forepart and vice versa.

The automatic operations by which the completed blank isfdisch'arged and a fresh one substituted comprise the operation of lowering the work .suppo-rtand the clearer,

'34 to free 't'hework fromthe-knives and from thetfeedcwheel, the ejecting'of the,

blank from the machine by a -horizontal movement, the feeding of, a fresh blank into position upon the work support, and the .raising .of the work support to bring the blank into operative engagement with the knives and the feed wheel; The mechanisms for performingthese operations are set into motion at the-proper time by the following mechanism: Upon the bottom of the guide cam 37 is formed a cam surface 109 (F ig. 4, and dotted lines in Fig. 6) which is engaged by a-cam lever 1'10 pivoted to the' frame of the machine and connected at its rear end by means of a link 111 with a detent-112 (Figs. 4 and 5) pivoted upon a rock shaft 113- ournaled in the frame of the -machine. The deten't 112 normally engages and holds the single stop 53 on the stop ring 49 of the upper clutch, but the cam surface 109 has a projection..114 which is so located "that after the operation upon the sole blank has been completed and the sole blank has returned to its original position,- the last movement imparted to the-lower cams by the fceler mechanism causes the projection 114 to engage the cam lever so that the detent 112 is tripped and the upper clutch is thrown 'into operation, causing a complete rotatlon of the cams 40 which operates to lower and raise the work support, engages a slide 115 having a bearand 41. The cam'40,

mg in the frame of the machine. The' slide 115 is connected, by bell-crank levers 116 and 117 journaled -ina vertical slot in the frame of the machine, with the work' support bracket 57, which is mounted to slide vertically, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, in a way on the frame of the machine,- the bracket being retained in the way by plates 118 screwed to the frame. During the operation upon a blank the parts above described have the position shown in the drawings, the work-support bracket 57 being held in raised position, but upon the first motion of the cam 40 the slide 115 is released and the worksupport bracket and the work support, to-

"gether with the parts mounted thereon, fall.

of the cam 40 the work support remains down until a fresh blank has been placed uponit, and then rises again under the influence of the cam 40.

The finished sole is ejected after the work support has dropped by two arms or ejectors- 121 and 122 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) fixed to the ends of a rock shaft 124 journaled in the frame of the machine, one or the other of the ejectors operating according to the posiscription of the blank-supplying mechanismwider at its right-hand portion thanat its left-hand portlon, so as to approximate the tion occupied by the sole at the completion of the operation thereon, such position differing according as the blank has been channeled completely about its periphery, as is common 1n some blasses of work, or only about the shank and forepart, as in workof other-kinds. A spring 125, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, tends to swing the ejectors forward, but the ejectors are normally held in retracted position by means of a detent 126 (Fig. 2) which engages a lug127 on the ejector 122. The detent 126 is released at the proper time, and the ejectors are raised after their operation, by mechanism which will be described in connection with the deby which it is actuated.

The supply of.,-blanksi is contained in a hopper 128 mounted on the front of the machme. The hopper, as shown in Fig. 9, is

dimensions of the largest blanks which are placed therein. The blanks are fed from the bottom of the hopper and the hopper is located slightly above the work support so that the blank which is being operated upon may swing freely under=the bottom of the crating instrumentalities F hopper. Owing to this arrangement the hopper may be placed veryclose to the op-.

sary in transferring abllank from the hopper to the work support to move the blank only 'a short dlstance laterally, as will be I clearly apparent from Fig. 9, in which the original position of the blank is shown in' dotted lines, instead of moving the blank through a distance equal to or greater than 1ts length, as would be necessary if the hopso that it is necessper were on the level wit-h the work support but removed sufiiciently from the operating means to afiord clearance for the blank operated upon. The bottom of the hopper is inclined to facilitate the transfer of a blank therefrom to the. work sup ort, and it is formed of severalseparate portions 12?), between which are slots for the passage of the fin ersby which the blanksare moved lateral y. The forwaid extremities of, the base 129 are fixed to a bar 130 on the front of the hopper. The transfer fingers 131 (Fig. 4) are fixed to a flat bar 132 pivoted at its ends in plungers 133- (Figs. 1 and 2) which slide in the ends of rockarms 134 fixed to the ends of a rock shaft135. The rock shaft 135 is journaled in a bracket on the frame of the machine.

pivoted, carry guide rolls '137 which engage guides 138 on the ends of the hopper, and springs 139 are connected with the rock arms 134 and with pins 140 fixed to the plungers 133 and moving in slots in the ends of the rock arms. This arrangement is such the bottom of the hopper, but friction between the bar and the hopper ,is prevented by the guide rolls 137. The rear edge of the bar 132 is normally held up by springs 141 engaging-lugs 142 on the ends of the bar.

The rock shaft 135 and the rock arms are actuated at the proper time by mechanism connecting the rock shaft with the cam. 41 connected with the upper clutch. The cam engages acam roll 143 on a cam journaled in the frame of the machine. The rock shaft carries at. its upper end an arm 146 (Figs. 2 and 3) carrying a swivelstud 147. A link 148 is pivotally connected with the swivel stud and with one of the rock arms, as shown in Fig.2. A v coiled spring 149 surrounding the rock shaft 145, is fixed at its upper end to the frame of the machine, and at its lower end to a collar 150 pinned to the rock shaft, and this spring operates to maintain the cam roll 143 normally in contact with the cam 41, and to move the blank-transferring mechanism in one direction, while'the mechanism is moved in the opposite direction against the resistance of the spring by the cam. The mechanism is so arranged-that it is operated by the spring when performing its active movement, that is, in transferring a blank from the hopper to the work support. so that. in case, the

action may be arrested the machine.

To facilitate the proper location of the sole blank with relation to the operating means by the blank-transferring devices, the machine is provided with a table, the part 96 before mentioned, which is secured by means that the bar 132 is caused tomove closeto I The trunnions 136 at the ends of the bar 132, by which it is arm 144 fixed to a vertical rock shaft 145 I mechanism becomes clogged in any way, its

without 1n ury tor of the lugs. 95 to thework-support bracket 57 a little below the lev elof thework support. An edge stop 151 is secured to the frame of the machine,'and has ahor'izontal portion extending along the edge of the table 96, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. v \Vhen the blank is transferred from the hopper to the work support by the devices above described, the table 96 is in lowered position, owing to the lowered position-of the bracket 57, and-tlieedge stop 151 thereforeextends above the surface of the table. As shown in Fig.9, the table supports the forepartof the blank, while the edgm'stop, .coiiperating with the edge gage 30, insures the prese1itation of the blank at the proper'angle to-,the knives. VVhenthe rock arms 134 are act-uatedby the spring 149-as above described the transfer fingers 131 engage rheedge of the blank, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9, and'the blank is pushed opiatof the bottom of the hofper until it is clear from the hopper, the'rear edge of the blank being supp rtedupon the finger bar 132, while the orward edge slides under the clearer T and into "contact with the edge gage and back again.

edge stop. When the blank has reaehed this 'posit-ion'the movement of the rock arms is arrested, thespring-149 ceasing to efli'ect any further movement-bf the arms 134,.

and the-continued movement of the cams 41 subsequently :causes the arms to bemoved movement of the arms, however, the work Ii'ig. 2....1The1detlent 126 is slotted at 155 .I' of the machine.

holds the detent in the bar, which depressed."

support rises so as to grip the blank and prevent it being drawnback out of engagement withthe edge gage at the commencement of thereturn'movement. During, the return movement of the finger bar 132 the fingers 131 pass freely under the lowermost blank, owing to the pivoted arrangement of The mechanism by which the eje ctors are set and releasedv operates in conjunction with the blank-transferring mechanism.

The ejector122'is provided with-a pivoted stud 152, through which passesloosely a link 153 pivotally connected with the lower endof the swivel'stud 147. The link 153 carries acollar 154'and a-bufier 155, as shown in and mounted upon'ascrew 156 on the frame -A spring 157 normally -detentis prbvided with a lateral lug 158 -which is imposition. to be engaged by a @pin, 159 on the rock arm 134, as shown in ig. 2. The first inward movement of the rock arm, therefore, causes the pin 159- to .png-agsand trip, the detent, whereby the 'ejecto'rs are released and swung forward .by the spring 125, as abovedescribed, the

- moveme nt of the ejectors being arrested by the buffer 155. During the continued blank- Shortly; before this return permits the fingers -to be lowered position, but the pin 171.

transferring movement of the rock arms the link 153 draws the ejector122ba'ck until I the lug 127 is again 'engaged'jand retained by the detent 126. ,Duringthe return movement of the rock arms theapm se passes freely ulider'the lug1'58, the, slot 155 .per-

'mitting the lug to ,risefor this purpose.

The hopper is made longenough for the longest blanks which may be operated upon, and therefore, when shorter blanks are operatedon it is necessary that befor'efhey are transferred to the Work' support they be moved, longitudinally so as to bring their heel ends in proper position, which is gaged by the left-hand end of'the hopper, as shown in Fig. 9. To perform this operation autolnatically, the machine is'provided with an end pusher 160,. shown in Figs. 9 and 1,

the pusher being shown .kin dotted lines.

This bar is of a thickness somewhat less than that of the finished blank, and is a1--,

.ranged-to move atf'thebottom of the hopper so as to engaget-he toe-end of the lowermost blank therein and move the blank to the left funtil it engages the left-hand of the hopper, the movement-of the pusher being then arrested. The pusher is secured to an upturned shank 162 (see. Fig. .1) -which is fixed to a slide 163 slidingin guides on the 2 back of the hopper. Thelslide 163 carries a pin 164 .(Fig. 3) ,which'is engaged by the. forked lower end of a bell-crank lever 165 pivoted at 166 to the frame of the hopper.

The otherarin of the bell-crank lever is pivotally connected with a'link 167 passing through a stud 168 pivoted-on the forward end of an arm 169 fixed to the rock shaft 135. A nut on the upper'end of the link 167 engages. .a compression spring 17 0 which rests at its lower end upon' the stud 168' and maintains a pin 171 in the link 169 nor mally in engagement with the bottom of the stud 168. Whenothe rock arms move in to transfer a; blank the. arm 169 swings 'down and causes the link 167 and;; -lever 165 to move the slide 163 andth e' pusher t0 the' right-hand end 'of the ho per so thatthe lowermost-blank can fall reely to the bottom of the hopper, -a'nd the end pusher is A removable spacer 172 (Fig. 9) is placed in the left-hand end "of the hopper when blanks of moderatelength are operated on, being removed when it is ,necessarv to inpoint at which the operation is begun on 'crease'the --'distance of the heel fi'onlthe "the blank, as in mens work or other long blanks. A similar spacer 173 occupies the right-hand end of the hopper, except a slight 'space at the bottom which affords 'a recess for the end pusher when in its righthand position.

The general operation of the machine may be 'best described in connection with'Figs. -9.to inclusive, in which the sole blank with the work support the edge stop 151,

during the operation upon the blank, does not project above the table 151, and thus there-is nodanger of the blank accidentally coming into contact with and being arrested by the edge stop as the blank is swung. The first engagement of the blank with the ,feeler 33 causes the latter to produce a short "movement of thelower cams, the function of eration upon the shank has 'been'completed part. -m0ved forward slightly, so that the margin which movement is to move the, trip arm into the proper positionforv its next succeeding operation, which occurs after the opand the blank has reached the position of the full lines in Fig. 10. When this position is reached, and the feeler has swung inward to its position in Fig. 10, the cams are again actuated and the guide 31 swings forward so that the guide and the blank assume the positions shown in dotted lines, Fig. 10, the blank being thereby properly swung at the sharp angle between the shank and the fore- Simultaneously the edge gage .is

' at the forepart of the blank may befsomewhat narrower than that at the shank. After the blank has been swung to the new positionthe continued movement of the cams. causes the guide to be released, so that it may be freely. swung somewhat backward again :by the blank as the operation proceeds upon .the comparatively straight portion of the forepart. During the operation upon the forepart the feed wheelpwork support and edge gage operate to maintain the blank in proper engagement with the knives until the'sharply-curved extremity of the toe is reached, as shown in Fig. 11 by full lines. At this point the feeler swings to} its forc most position and again throws "the-cams mains -in.this position while theioperationinto operation, and the guide is quickly swung to the position of the dotted lines, Fig. 11, thereby swinging the blank to the position shown in dotted lines and designatedby the numeral 5. The guide then res upon the toe continues, and the guide roll serves as a fulcrum about which the blank is swung by the operation of the. feeding of the guide to permit the blank to be freely fed along the outside edge of the forepart. The next movement of the cams occurs when the junction between the forepart and the shank is again reached, as in Fig. 12, at

which point the blank ,is swung by the a guide, and theedge gage is retracted to widen the margin. The next movement of the cams occurs in the position of Fig. 13, the principal purpose of this movement be- .ing to advance the edge gage again to narrow the margin aboutthe heel. Incident-ally,

also, the guide is moved slightly forward in order to shorten the movement by which it is advanced in rounding the heel. When the heel is encountered, as in 14, the guide again advances, operating substan tially in the same manner as at the toe, .b ut

being released, when the heel has been round- .ed, by an additional movement of the cams.'

The final movement of .thecams occurs when the operation upon the blank has been completed and it has returned to the position shown in Fig. 15, At this point the work support falls, the clearer frees the blank from the knives, and the ejector discharges it from the. machine," and a new blank is transferred from the hopper in the manner above described.-

In case the supply of blanks in the hopper'runs out during .theoperation of the machine the mechanism is not disarranged thereby, but the knives and feeding means continue to move while the automatic devices -remainin the position occupied by oration. The rock shaft 113, upon which them at the completion of the previous opa' forwardly-extended arm 174, and upon placing a fresh supply of blanks in the hop,-

per it 1s necessary only to raise the arm 174 momentarily to cause the automatic, operation. of the machine to be resumed, the upper clutch and'cams being therebv caused to op erate to transfer a blank to the work support. a

. In Fig. 8 the operations-of the several parts of the machine are set forth diagrammatically,--the amplitudes of} the several cam movements being indicated indegrees, while the several positions assumed by the different parts are indicated by numerals and letters, the positions, of the sole and uide being designated by numerals applie to Fi 9to 15 inclusive, while the positions. of -.t e trip are indicated by letters which are applied to the corresponding positions, assumed by the feeler in'the figures referred to. As shown by the diagram,'the operations of the blanlstransferring device commence after the lower cams have turned through about 310, and the final movement of the lower cams is concluded after the upper cams have turned through about 50. The cycle of operations of the lower cams begins again after the upper cams have turned through about 210, the transfer of the blank having at this point brought it into contact with the feeler, and the last 170 of movement of the upper cams occurs after the operation upon the blank just transferred has begun, so that the operation of the knives upon a blank is interrupted during only about 210 of a rotation of the feed wheel.

The machine, as shown in the drawings, is fitted to operate entirely around the periphcry of the blank, as is customary in some classes of work, but it will be apparent that by slight modifications in the, cams it may be made to discharge the blank at any point, so that the operation may be completed after the shank and forepart have been operated upon, as is usual in making insoles for wclted shoes. I

It will be apparent that the automatic guiding devices and the automatic device for supplying blanks may be used in connection with any machine which operates upon the marginalportion of a sole or ll'lSQllQ blank,

including machines for slitting, lip turningor for reinforcing insoles, or performing various analogous operations, and the claims, therefore except such as are directed to the improvements specific to the channeling and shoulde'ring mechanism, are not limited to a machine for performing any particular operation.

The inclined position of the feed wheel and its comparatively small diameter cause it to have a tendency constantly to swing the blank inward against the edge gage, and this. tendency is augmented by the rotation of the work support in the plane of the blank, and by the fact that the center of the work support is slightly offset laterally from the knives andthe edge gage, as shown in. Fig. 5. For these reasons the blank, during the operation upon the shank and upon the comparatively straight portions of the forepart, requiresno guidance other than that of the edge gage, as it has no tendency to swing away therefrom. The arrangementand construction of the feed wheel and work support arc, therefore, important features of the present'invention, as they con- J duce to the automatic guidance of the blank.

The present invention is not limited to the details of construction and operation of the illustrated embodiment, but may he e1nbodied in other forms broadly defined in the claims.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed is:

1.. An automatic sale machine having, in combination, instrumentalities for acting on a sole blank, automatic mechanism, normallyinoperative, for actuating said instru mentalities, a feeler engaging the blank, and mechanism connected with the feeler and with said automatic mechanism and operating to throw the automatic mechanism interm-ittently into operation upon the attainment of different predetermined positions by the feeler, substantially as described.

2. Anautomatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities for acting upon a sole blank, automatic mechanism, normally inactive, for actuating said instrumentalities, meansfor throwing said automatic mechanism intermittently int-o operation including an element movable into and out of operative position, and a feeler engaging the blank and connected with the said element, the feeler operating, as the blank is fed, to-move said element into operative position to cause said means to throw said automaticv mechanism into operation, substantially as described.

3. An automatic sole machine having, in

combination, instrumentalities for acting on asole blank, automatic mechanism, normally inoperative, for actuating said instrumentalities, means for throwing said mechanism intermittently into operation includ- ,ing a constantlyoperating power actuated 'member, a cooperating member movable into and out of operative position to engage the constantly operating member, and a feeler engaging the blank and connected with said cooperating member so as to move the latter, substantially as described.

combination, instrumentalities for acting upon a sole blank, automatic mechanism, normally inoperative, for actuating said instrumentalities, means for throwing said mechanism intermittently into operation, including a constantly operating member, a cotiperating Ifiember movable into and out of operative position to engage the constantly operating member, a feeler engaging the blank and connected with said coop-crating member so as to move the same, and means for changing, upon the OPQIflilOIl of the automatic mechanism, the position of the constantly-operating member to cause it to register with the cooperating member in different positions of the latter, substan tially as described.

5. An automatic sole machine having, in combinat on, means for supporting, feeding and channeling a sole blank before attachment to a shoe,-an edge gage, and mcchanism acting automatically, during the operation on the blank, to change the relative positions of the edge gage and the channeling means to vary the distance ofthe channel from the edge of the blank, substantially as described.

- 6. An automatic sole machine having, in

4. An automatic sole machine having, in

combination, means for feeding and operatthe shank is reached, substantially as de-- means for feeding and operating on a sole blank, an edge gage, a feeler engaging the ing on a sole blank, an edge gage, and

mechanism acting automatically, during the operation on the blank, to advance the edge gage when the forepart of the blank is reached and to permit it to retreat when scribed. I

7. An automatlc sole machine having, in comb1nat1on, instrumentalities including blank, and automatic mechanism controlled by the feeler and acting to change the position of the edge gage during the operation on the blank, substantially as described.

8. An automatic sole machinehaving, in combination, instrumentalities including means for feeding and operating on a sole blank, an' edge gage, a feeler engaging the edge of the blank in advance of the operating means, and automatic mechanism co-ntrolled by the feeler and acting to change the position of the edgegage during the operation on the blank, substantially as described. Y

9.. An automatic sole machine having, in combination. a-work support,-a channeling tool for operating on the sole blank means for feeding the work over the work support, and mechanism acting automatically, when the operation 011 the blank is'completed, to move'the work support to release the work, substantially as described.

10. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, a'work support, feeding means .acting to press the marginal portion of a sole blank against the work support, a channeling tool for operating on the blank, and mechanism acting automatically, when the operation on the blank is completed, to separate the work support and the feeding means torelease the blank and means to thereafter discharge the blank, substantially as described. t

11. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, means for engaging, holding and feeding the marginal portion of a sole blank, means for operating thereon,- and mechanism acting automatically, when the operation on the blank is completed, to cause the blank-holding means to release the blank and means to thereafter discharge the blank, substantially as described.

12. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, a. 'work support, a feeding device cooperating therewith to feed a sole blank over the work support, and-mechanism acting automatically upon the insertion of a sole blank between these'parts to move them together to grip the blank, and upon the completion of the operation on the blank to move them apart to release the blank, substantially as described.

13. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including on a'sole blank, afeeler engaging the blank, and automaticmechanism controlled by the feeler and acting, when the operation on the blank is completed, to operate the holding means to release the blank and means to thereafter discharge the blank, substantially as described; j

'14. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including means for holding, feeding and operating ,means for holding, feeding and operating on a sole blank, a feeler engaging the peripheral edge of blank, and automatic mechanism controlled by the feeler and acting when a blank is supplied to the holding means, to actuate said means to engage and hold the blank, substantially as described. 15. An automatic sole machine having, in

combination, meansfor feeding and operating on .a sole blank, a work support, a feeler engaging the edge of the blank in advance of the operating means, and automatic mechanism controlledbythe feeler for actuating the work support to release and se.

cure the Work when a finished sole is removed and a blank inserted, substantially as described. 3

' 16. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities engaging the marginal ,portionof a sole blank and ineluding means for feeding and operating uponsuch portion ofthe blank, and mechanism controlled by the blank acting automatically, upon the completion of the operation on one blank, and its attainmentof a predetermined position as aresult of the feeding operation,to supply a fresh blank, substantially as described.

17. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities engaging progressively the marginal portion of a sole blank and including means for feeding and operating upon such portion of the blank,

ahopper for holding a supply of blanks,

and mechanism acting automatically, upon the completion of the operation on one blank, and its attainment of a predetermined position as a result of the feeding operation, to transfer a fresh blank from the hopper to the said instrumentalities, substantially as described; a

18. An, automatic channeling machine having, in combination, means for engaging progressively and feeding the marginal portion of a sole blank, means for channeling the blank, and mechanism acting automatically, upon the blank upon the attainment of a predetermined position by the blank, to

supply a fresh blank, substantially as described.

I 19. An automatic sole machinehaving, in combination, instrumentalities for feeding,

1,044,443 I as.

guiding and operating upon a sole blank, automatic blank-supplying mechanism, and a feeler engaging the blank so as to be controlled thereby in its movements as the blank is fed, the feeler being connected with the blank-supplying mechanism so as to throw the same into operation when the feeler reaches a certain position as the result of the progress of the blank through the "machine, substantially. as described.

20. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, feeding, guiding and operating means, blank-supplying means, a feeler en gaging the edge .of the sole blank in ad- Vance of the operating means, and automatic mechanism, controlledby the feeler for actuating the blank-supplying means when the operation on a blank is completed, substantially as described.

21. Anautomatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities engaging the margin of a sole blank and including means for feeding and operating upon such portion of the blank, an ejector for ejecting the blank, a blank-supplying device for supplyin g a fresh blank, and mechanism controlled by the blank operating automatically, upon completion of the operation on a blank, and its attainment of a predetermined position as a result of the feeding operation,--to actuate the ejector and the blank-supplying device, substantially as described.

Ian automatic sole machine having,.in combination, means for operating on a sole idank, a feeler engaging the blank, and an ejector operating automatically, under the control of the feeler, to eject the work when the operation thereon is completed, substantiaily as described.

23. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, insrumentalities including means for feeding and operating upon the marginal portion of a sole blank, a work support engaging the blank opposite to the feeding and operating means, a blank-supplying device for supplying fresh blanksto the-feeding and operating means, and mechanisni controlled by the blank operating automatically, upon the completion of the operation on a blank, and its attainment of a predetermined position as a result of the feeding operation, to actuate .the work support. to release the blank, and to actuate the blank-supplying device to supply a fresh blank, substantially as described.

24. An automatic sole machine having,- in combination, instrumentalities for engaging and operating upon a sole blank, means. for supporting a fresh blank, a blank-supplying device actingautomatically, upon the completion of the operation on a blank to move the fresh blank into position to engage the operating instrumentalities, and. meansactmg auiifimatmally, previous to the 7 operation of the blank-supplying device, to

engage the blank yieldingly and move it for holding a supply of blanks, a pusher moving in the bottom of thehopper and acting automatically to engage the blanks therein and move them endwise into a definite position in. the hopper, and a blanksupplying device acting automatically, upon the completion of the operation on a blank, to transfer 'a fresh b ank from the hopper to the operating instrumentalities, substantially as, described.

26. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including a knife and a clearer arranged to engage one side of a sole blank, and mechanism for moving the clearer to push the blank away from engagement with the knife when the ,operation on the blank is completed, substantially as described.

27. An automatic sole machine having, in comblnation, instrumentalities mcludmg a knife. and a clea er arranged to engage one side of a sole blank, a work support engaging the opposite side, and connected mechanism acting, when the operation on the blank is completed, to move the work support awayv from the knife and cause the clearer to push the blank away from the knife, substantially as described.

28. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including a channeling knife operating on the marginal portion of a sole blank, means for engaging and feeding the marginal portion of the blank, and a clearer and an ejector acting automatically, when the operation on the blank is completed, to push the blank out of engagement with the knife and eject it from the machine, substantially as described.

29. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including a knife and a clearer arranged to engage one side of a sole blank, a Work support engaging the opposite side of the blank, an ejector arranged to engage the edge of the blank, and mechanism acting automatically, when the operation on the blank is completed, to actuate said parts to release, free, and eject the blank, substantially as described.

30. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including means for operating on the marginal portion of a sole blank and for swinging the blank in the plane of its surface, a hopper located at a distance from the operating means for operating on the marginal. portion of a sole blank and for swinging. the blank inthe plane of its surface, a hopper located adjacent to the operating means, the bottom of the hopper being near to but sufliciently above the plane in which the blank swings to permit the blank to swing under it, and automatic mechanism for transferring a blank edgewise from the'bottom of the hopper to the operating means, 20

substantially as described.

32. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including means for operating on a sole blank and for swinging the blank in the plane of itssurface, a hopper located adjacent to the operating means and having an inclined bottom near to but above the plane in which the blank is swung, and automatic mechanism for transferring ablank edgewise from the bottom of the hopper to the operating means, substantially as described.

' 33.- An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including means for operating on a sole blank, a hopper having a bottom formed of bars supported only at their rear ends and arranged with intervening slots, and a transferring device comprising a bar moving beneath the bottom of the hopper and having blankcngaging fingers extending up between the bars forming the bottom of the hopper so -asto engage the edge of a blank in the hopper and transfer the blank to the operating means, substantially as described.

34-. An automatic sole machine having,

in combination, instrumentalities including means for operating on a sole blank, means for transferring a fresh blank to said operating means, mechanism for actuatingthe blank-introducing means comprising a 'cam,

constantly rotating shaft, a clutch, normally inoperative for connecting the cam and the shaft, and mechanism acting automatically, when the operation on a blank is completed, to throw the clutch into operation to actuate the blank transferring means, substantially asdescribed.

35. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including means for operating on the marginal portion of a sole blank, a guide for controlling the swinging of theblank, a cam for actuating the guide, a constantly rotating shaft, a clutch normally tending to operate for connecting the cam and the shaft, a throwout device for the cam provided with a series of stops for operating the throw-out device andrstopping the cam after each of a series of partial rotations," a detent engaging successively the stops to operate the throwout, and "mechanism acting automatically to release the detent as certain points on the blank are reached in the course of the operation thereon, substantially as described.

36. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including means for operating on the marginal portion of a sole blank, a guide for controlling the swinging of the blank, a cam for actuating the guide, means for moving the cam intermittently. through a partial'rotation as certain points are reached in the operation on theablank, work-changing mechanism, a cam for actuating the work-changing mechanism, a constantly-rotating shaft, a clutch for connecting said cam and shaft, and means connected with the guide-actuating cam for throwing the clutch into operation to actuate the work-changing mechanism when the guide cam has turned through a certain portion of a revolution, substantially as described.

. 37. A sole machine having, in combination, instrumentalities including two knives for operating on the marginal portion of a sole blank, independent supports for the knives, means for feeding theblank, and mechanism acting to vibrate the two knives and their supports in opposite directions in the line of feed, substantially as described;

38. An automatic sole machine having, in combination, aflat rotary work support, an inclined rotary feed wheel, means for rotating the work support and feed wheel, means for operating on the marginal portion of a sole blank on the work support, and means engaging the'edge of the blank and operating, in conjunction with the work support and the feed wheel, to guide the blank automatically during the operation thereon, substantially as described.

39. An. automatic sole machine having,

in combination, a flat rotary work support, an inclined rotary feed wheel, an edge gage. means for rotating the work support and feed wheel, a channeling knife, and means engaging the edge of the blank and operating, in conjunction with the work support, feed wheel, and edge gage, to guide the work during the operation thereon, substantially as described. v

40. An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, means for supporting; feeding and operating on'a sole blank before attach ment to a shoe, an edge gage and mechanism thrown into operation automatically during the operation on the blank to change the a position of the edge gage, substantially as described.

41. An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, a tool for. operating on the marginal portion of a sole blank, a work support arranged to support the blankas it is fed over the work support to present successive portions of its margin to the tool, and mechanism acting automatically, when the operation on the blank is completed, to move the work support to release the work, substantially as described.

' 42. An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, a work support, a tool for operating on the marginal portion of a blank, feeding means acting to press the sole blank against the work support and feed the sole over the work support to present successiveportions of its margin to the tool and mechanism acting automatically when the operation on the blank is completed to separate the work support and the feeding means while the blank is still between them, substantially as described. u

43. An automatic sole machine, havlng,

. in combination, means for' engaging and holding the marginal portion of a sole blank,

meansfor operating thereon while the sole is engaged and held and mechanism controlled by the blank acting automatically when .the operation on the blank is completed to cause the blank holding means to release the blank and means for thereafter discharging the blank, substantially as described.

An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, instrumentalities engaging progressively the marginal portion of a sole blank and including meansfonfeeding the blank and for operating upon the blank as successive portions of its margin are presented thereto, and mechanism acting automatically upon the completion of the opsubstantially as described. 45

eration on one blank to supply a fresh blank,

45. An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, instrumentalities engaging progressively the marginal portion of a sole blank and including means for feeding the blank and for operating upon the blank as successive portions of its margin are presented thereto,-a hopper for holding and supplying the blanks and mechanism acting automatically upon the completion of the operation on one blank to transfer a fresh blank from the hopper to the instrumentalities, substantially as described.

46. An automatic channeling machine, having, in combination, means for engaging progressively and feeding the marginal portion of a sole blank, means forchanneling the blank and mechanism acting automatically upon the completion of the operation on one blank to supply a fresh blank, substantially as described. 1

.an ejector for ejecting the blank, a blank supplying device for supplying a fresh blank and mechanism acting automatically upon the completion of an operation on one blank to actuate the ejector and the blank supply ing device, substantially described.

4-8. An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, instrumentalities including means for feeding and operating upon the marginal portion of a sole blank, a work support engaging the blank opposite to the feeding and operating means and over which the blank is fed, a blank supplying device for supplying fresh blanks to the feeding and operating means and mechanism operating automatically upon the completion of the operation on a blank to actuate the work to release the blank and to actuate the blank supplying device to supply a fresh blank, substantially as described.

49. An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, instrumentalities for engaging progressively and feeding the marginal portion of a sole blank, and for op erating upon successive portions of the margin of the blank, means for supporting a fresh blank, a blank supplyingdevice act- .ing automatically upon the completion of the operation on a blank to move the fresh blank into position to engage the operating instrumentalities and means acting automatically previous to the operation of the blank supplying device to engage the blank and move it to a predetermined position so that it will be supplied in proper position to the operating instrumentalities, substantially as described.

50. An automatic sole machine, having, in combination, instrumentalities including a knife operating .on the marginal portion of a sole blank, and means for transferring the point of operation of the knife around the blank, and a clearer and-an ejector acting automatically, when the operation on the blank is completed to push the blank out of engagement with the knife'and eject it from the machine, substantially as described.

51. An, automatic sole machine, having, in combination, a fiat rotary work support, an inclined rotary feed wheel, means for rotating the work support and feed wheel, means for operating on the marginal portion of a sole blanko-n the work support, and means for supplying a fresh blank when the operation on one blank is completed, substantially as described.

52. An automatic sole machine. hav ng, 

